Welcome to my art blog



A self-taught artist, I have always been drawn towards the macabre. Born a twin on Christmas Eve 1964 in Montreal, my twin died several months after birth. This became a large influence in my creative process; isolation, detachment, duality, haunted visions coming from this astral being that I am forever tethered to.

Art has always been my way to process and filter what I come across, what I am subjected to, or what I subject myself to each day; a way for me to exorcise the demons on my shoulder. The paintings are empathic, often inspired by the individual’s strength in the face of their own weakness. The common thread in all of my works is survival of self.

If a viewer is made uncomfortable by my work, then I have done my job as an artist. I have touched something within them that they are not comfortable with. I want to elicit a visceral response but maintain a sense of the absurd, creating works that are both intensely horrifically personal and humourous.

I am inspired by artists that have celebrated the grotesque: Hieronymus Bosch, Joe Coleman, Otto Dix and George Grosz.

This blog is a progression of my work, works in progress, random thoughts etc. You can join me on Facebook or view a gallery of my work on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27952465@N05/

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Your f(r)iend,

Grant Cunningham

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Through a Thin Veil


I moved out on my own and the first thing I did was go down to a pet store in Verdun and buy a little black kitten for five bucks. I had always wanted a black cat and when I saw this one it was love at first sight. I named her Twilight (no, nothing to do with that damn movie). That cat ended up being my companion and faithful familiar for more than twenty years. One day she just lay down, looked up at me, I watched her pupils grow big and black and she died.

Ripped. My. Heart. Out. I ended up working on and finishing this painting in about two weeks while listening to The Cure (Disintigration) on a loop, consuming far too much red wine, and bawling my eyes out.

The figure is a crematorium (I had her cremated and still have her ashes which will be buried with me). This painting has a prominent place in my studio, and although I have had many offers from buyers, it will be one that I will not part with.


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